Actually, I agree with you. Fit is important. I just want to encourage people to look for the cheap fit before heading for the more expensive one.
Really, the most important lesson is that you only need one good chef's knife. If you take good enough care of it (i.e. avoid needing to sharpen it so often that it becomes a matchstick) it will last a lifetime. So, really, go for it. Blow the $99 if you've shopped around and found the most comfortable knife in the world. It's not much money when amortized over your entire life.
(Incidentally, the first irony here is that my own chef's knife was a gift, from someone who probably does not read Cook's Illustrated, so it's probably a $70 knife.
The second irony is that, after a few years, I've concluded that my knife really doesn't fit me very well. So I'm probably going to end up buying another knife or two in an attempt to find something better. I'll be starting in the $26 range!
Which brings me to my last piece of advice: Don't give knives as gifts. Give gift certificates to stores that sell knives.)
Actually, my daily knife is a Santoku-style German knife whose compromises I like better for much of what I do. It was amazing how much better at knife work I got (and how much more confidence I had cooking!) when I was liberated from my constantly dull knives. :)
Really, the most important lesson is that you only need one good chef's knife. If you take good enough care of it (i.e. avoid needing to sharpen it so often that it becomes a matchstick) it will last a lifetime. So, really, go for it. Blow the $99 if you've shopped around and found the most comfortable knife in the world. It's not much money when amortized over your entire life.
(Incidentally, the first irony here is that my own chef's knife was a gift, from someone who probably does not read Cook's Illustrated, so it's probably a $70 knife.
The second irony is that, after a few years, I've concluded that my knife really doesn't fit me very well. So I'm probably going to end up buying another knife or two in an attempt to find something better. I'll be starting in the $26 range!
Which brings me to my last piece of advice: Don't give knives as gifts. Give gift certificates to stores that sell knives.)